New York Republicans seek probe into China ‘infiltration’ of governor's office

(The Center Square) — New York Republicans are calling for an investigation into the "infiltration" of the governor's office following the arrest of a former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul on charges of acting as an agent for China.

Linda Sun, who served as Hochul's deputy chief of staff, and her husband Christopher Hu have been charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for Eastern New York. The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Federal prosecutors allege that Sun was working as an "undisclosed" agent for China during her nearly decade-long tenure in the New York state government, which included work for Hochul and her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. That included seeking a high-level state visit to China, tweaking the state's messaging on Uygur minorities, and preventing representatives of the Taiwanese government from meeting with U.S. officials.

The couple used money from the Chinese government to buy a $4.1 million home in Long Island, a $2.1 million condo in Hawaii and luxury automobiles, prosecutors allege.

Hochul has been quick to distance herself from Sun, saying she fired her last year after allegations of misconduct surfaced and that her administration has been cooperating with the Department of Justice's investigation.

"I’m furious and I’m outraged and I’m absolutely shocked at how brazen her behavior was," Hochul told WNYC radio on Tuesday. "It was a betrayal of trust. The trust of government. The trust of the people."

But New York Republicans, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, are calling for a "complete investigation" of Hochul and her administration "so that hardworking New York taxpayers receive the transparency we deserve.”

"Failed Far Left Democrat Kathy Hochul allowed Communist Chinese spy Linda Sun unfettered access to the highest levels of New York State government," Stefanik said in a statement. "From allowing Chinese police stations, to maintaining a sister city partnership between NYC and Beijing, this is another example of New York Democrats facilitating the influence campaign of Communist China."

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., echoed calls for a deeper probe into the extent to which the Chinese Communist Party infiltrated the state government.

"The fact that Kathy Hochul had a CCP agent on her staff is incredibly alarming and must be investigated further," he said. "How else did this foreign agent impact the Governor's decision-making? The public deserves to know."

Sun's attorney, Jarrod Schaeffer, issued a statement late Tuesday saying the couple is "disappointed" by the filing of these charges, which "are inflammatory and appear to be the product of an overly aggressive prosecution."

"As we said today in court, our client is eager to exercise her right to a speedy trial and to defend against these accusations in the proper forum – a court of law," the statement said.